Charles Esten, who plays country singer/ guitar player Deacon Claybourne on the show, and Clare Bowen, the actress who portrays country ingénue Scarlett O’Connor, will perform along with country newcomer Chase Rice. A third cast member of “Nashville” will also perform, and will be announced in a few weeks.

“We’ve shot in the Bridgestone before so I’ve been up on that stage with a guitar in my hand but this is a whole new ballgame,” Esten said. “This is the real deal. It’s extremely exciting, especially that weekend because I know how many people are coming in for the marathon.”

The concert starts at 7 p.m. on April 26. Runners, volunteers and children who participate in the race will receive free tickets with registration as well as the chance to purchase tickets for family and friends.

“This whole thing is multiple dreams come true for me,” Esten said. “Besides the show and how great it is and all that I get to do with the show, these side things and my music have been important to me for a long time. But honestly, I didn’t think I’d ever get to do stuff like I’m getting to do right now. It keeps going. It’s life imitating art imitating life imitating art.”

The concert is also open to the public. Tickets are $35 through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

Viewers didn't see a very happy Jaymes family reunion on tonight's "Nashville" - and according to previews, one of the ABC drama's regulars didn't survive tonight's episode.

But on the bright side, by the end of the music-heavy hour, you may have had a new fa<h3vorite "Nashville" song or two, and you won't have to wait to hear more of them. You will have to wait a few weeks for a new episode of "Nashville," however- the show is steering clear of the Winter Olympics, and will return with new episodes on February 26. In the meantime, let's take a closer look at tonight's tunes:Continue reading →

Charles Esten from ABC's television show "Nashville" makes a special appearance at the Tennessee Press Association Winter Convention Opening Reception at the DoubleTree Hotel on Feb. 5, 2014, in Nashville, Tenn. (photo: Erin Turner for The Tennessean)

A new survey signals that ABC’s “Nashville” is making a mark on the real Nashville’s economy — and that’s not just music to the ears of local tourism officials, but also to those affiliated with the show.

Cast member Charles Esten, who plays “Deacon,” and executive producer Steve Buchanan, also the president of Opry Entertainment Group, were on hand at the Doubletree Downtown Nashville Hotel tonight for the opening reception of the Tennessee Press Association’s Winter Convention.

Even more real-life Music City stars are making the move to ABC's "Nashville." Zac Brown Band and Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus were the latest country hitmakers to make appearances on the primetime TV drama during its January 22 episode.

Allison and Jay DeMarcus on ABC's 'Nashville'

In the episode, Scarlett O'Connor (played by Clare Bowen) makes a guest appearance with Zac Brown Band during an outdoor concert to sing their hit "Free." In reality, the scene was filmed last September in Nashville during the band's second annual Southern Ground Music & Food Festival at the Lawn at Riverfront Park, and that audience of real country fans were genuinely surprised to see Bowen take the stage. "Nashville" favorites Lennon and Maisy also performed with the band that weekend. Click here to see our photos from the Southern Ground fest.

Nashville locations

Tons of great Nashville scenery in this week's episode, from the "Southern Ground" scenes to Avery and Juliette busking on 1st Ave. on the Riverfront. That party scene towards the end of the episode was filmed at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, and Chip Esten (who plays Deacon Claybourne) is hosting their induction ceremony and concert next Tuesday. Also, the folks at ASCAP told us that scenes in this week's episode were shot at the performing rights organization's Nashville office.

“A lot of the cast members bought a house pretty quickly and they moved their families there, and I was like, seven years in some place, but every year you have to find out whether or not you’re employed,” said Panettiere, who was nominated for best supporting actress for her role as country star Juliette Barnes on the ABC drama. “I waited until I have a personal investment in Nashville. I love it there and I’d be there regardless of the show being there or not. Knock on wood it will still be there!”

One activity she’ll be doing a lot of in her new local digs is wedding planning. Panettiere, engaged to boxer Wladimir Klitschko, told “Access Hollywood” she hadn’t even started.

“But I also feel like it’s a really cool transition to make in a relationship, to let it sink in and to feel out that aspect, when you’ve committed yourself to someone — it’s one step down from the fullest commitment that you can make,” she said.

As for where the New York native and her Ukranian beau will say their vows, Panettiere doesn’t know that either.

'Nashville' creator Callie Khouri, second from left, on the set (Photo: ABC/Mark Levine)

Even though ABC’s “Nashville” didn’t air a new episode last week, the cast was still hard at work around town – including at Ryman Auditorium – filming scenes for upcoming shows. Currently the drama series is on a break from airing new episodes for the holidays, but creator/executive producer Callie Khouri says “everything is going great on the show.”

“We’re having a lot of fun,” Khouri said. “We’ve kind of hit our stride a little bit. We’re a 10 (p.m. eastern) network show so there’s a certain amount of shenanigans that have to take place to justify our timeslot. But we still try to make the music the focus and the lives of the people making the music the focus and to tell those stories as authentically as we can.”

But even with all of the bed-hopping and backstabbing that happens on the series, Khouri said her friends in the Nashville music business still tell her that she and the rest of the cast and crew make the music industry “look so nice.”

“They say, ‘ If you showed how it really was …,’” she said. “I’m like, ‘Really, go on. Anything you want to tell me?’ They feel like we are way nicer on our show than (the music business) actually is. I guess that’s both good and bad. I don’t’ know.”

After four years together and a year-long engagement to actor Liam Hemsworth, Miley Cyrus, 21, told Barbara Walters that she’s learning how to be alone.

Click for a gallery of Miley Cyrus over the years. Miley Cyrus shown here with Barbara Walters for the ABC News special, "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013." (Photo: Heidi Gutman/ABC)

Walters spoke to the Nashville native for the ABC News special “Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013,” which will air at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night.

“I was so scared of ever being alone, and I think, conquering that fear, this year, was actually bigger than any other transition that I had, this entire year,” Cyrus said. “I don’t ever want to have to need someone again, where you feel like, without them, you can’t be yourself.”

The couple started dating after meeting on the set of the movie “The Last Song” in 2009 and revealed their engagement in May of 2012. After months of speculation, the couple confirmed their breakup in September.

“I don’t think I realized what 19 truly is, and I got engaged at 19, and I definitely wouldn’t change being engaged,” Cyrus said. “It was so fun wearing a fat rock for a few years. But now, I just feel like I can actually be happy. I wait for those moments of silence, when I’m just at my house, by myself.”

Cyrus said she feels like now “she can actually be happy” by herself.

In addition to being one of Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013, The “Wrecking Ball” singer released her new album “Bangerz” this fall and will appear on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2014!, which will air at 10 p.m. Dec. 31 on ABC.

Viewers knew going into tonight's episode of "Nashville" that they'd be saying goodbye to one of the show's well-known characters. Still, that didn't make the loss of a "Nashville" regular any less of a shock.

We don't know much about tonight’s episode of "Nashville," but we do know it will be one character's last. A release from ABC told us that “by evening's end, someone from the world of ‘Nashville’ will be gone forever.”